Sunday, June 21, 2009

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

(Did you notice the skinny crop? I told you. I'm really into that right now.)

Here is more from Missy and Johnny. I guess this also falls into the back[b]log category as we did this session way back in October. Fall is Missy's favorite time of year. When Missy asked if we could do the photos at the Arboretum because that is where Johnny actually proposed. I said "I think that's perfect."

I'm not going to lie I was a little nervous before doing this session. Missy and Johnny both are photographers. Admittedly, Missy doesn't do portraits, however Johnny has his own studio business, and even though we're all friends I was still a little intimidated. That is....until we got started.

As I'm sure you can tell Johnny is a bit of a nut, which made any sense of intimidation fly right out the window. These guys were so much fun to photography. I don't think I've ever laughed quite that hard during a session. And this is how they both are naturally...laid back, smiling and laughing. Like I said before, they are perfect for one another.

One thing you should know is that Johnny isn't just marrying Missy. Missy has a daughter named Sophia. It's a package deal. So, of course Sophie joined us for the session too.

One thing I've always said about Johnny is that he's such a nice guy. I think he has as much love for this little girl as he does her mom. It was so awesome to see how Johnny and Sophie interact on their own.

This session was full of smiles and laughter. So sweet and playful, exactly like Missy and Johnny. These guys were up for anything...including a silly, little dip at the end.

It was so much fun for me to be a part of.

As I said in my previous post, Missy and Johnny are getting married on Saturday. It is so wonderful to see two separate friends of mine both find love and happiness in each other. I am so happy for them both. I can't wait until the weekend.

Remember that movie When Harry Met Sally? It's a personal favorite of mine. My favorite parts are the interviews with the older couples each recounting how they first met. Did you know that those were all real couples, not actors? (Just a bit o' trivia there for you.) Anyway, I imagine in thirty to forty years if they were to ever remake make that movie they might choose Missy and Johnny to do an interview, because their story is a special one.

Johnny and I have been friends since college, a good ten plus years now, back when I was a grungy, sleep-deprived art student that had all but moved into the UK Photo Lab. After college, Johnny decided to start up his own photography studio back home in Georgetown. He and I would run into one another off and on at photography conferences or at the local camera shop. For a while it seemed like every time I went to Murphy's, he'd coincidentally be there.

Missy and I didn't meet until a few years later. She and I worked together at Holifield Photography. We actually started on the very same day. She was the behind the scenes, production girl. I was on the front lines, customer service gal and later photographer. Often I sought refuge in her office when I needed a momentary break from the hustle and bustle of the front desk or camera rooms. Prior to this time, Missy had worked at Murphy's Camera with her best friend, Lorri. Lorri eventually came to the studio and a few months later Missy followed. It turns out Missy, Lorri and I were acquainted with many of the same people due to our mutual photography interests. Over the years we became more than just coworkers, we became close friends. We saw each other through all that life dished out...engagements, weddings, break-ups, pregnancies, births, heart breaks and divorce. Eventually Missy, left the studio to go back to school and pursue her Master's degree, but Lorri and I continued to work together until my move to UK last year.

(the three amigos..or is it amigas?)

Missy and Johnny...RIGHT! Okay, so, remember how I said I'd occasionally bump into Johnny at photography related events? Well, back in 2005 or so he and I met up at the KPPA convention in Covington. After a good bit of catching up and hanging out, I convinced him that he needed to come down to Lexington and stop by the studio, which eventually he did. This is where Fate steps in....Fate also known as Lorri. As I was showing Johnny around, we heard a voice say. "Is that Johnny Farris?!" Turns out Lorri knew Johnny from her days working at Murphy's. It's a small world. The began their own version of catching up and she asks if he remember happens to remember Missy. A few minutes later she handed him Missy's number and suggests he give her a call so they can go out shooting (photographing) together some time.

Not long after Missy and Johnny did go out. (I forget who called who, because Lorri was sure to get Johnny's number too before he left.) Missy told me they both liked each other very much but the timing wasn't right. At the time, Missy was recently divorced and adjusting to her raising her daughter on her own and her recent decision to go back to school.

Now their story doesn't end there. Fast forward a couple of years; Fate (the real one this time) steps in again. Missy went out for Halloween with some of her friends, and guess who she bumps into? She and Johnny decided to give it another shot . This time things sparked. A couple of months later I got and excited phone call from Lorri. "You'll never guess who Missy is dating?!" The next time I saw Johnny, he greeted me with his usual bear hug and all I could do was say "I'm so happy for you. OMG You two are perfect for each other!"

Missy and Johnny are getting married on Saturday, and I can't tell you how excited I am for them. We recently had a surprise wedding shower for the couple. Lorri and I casually reminded the two of them of our early involvenment that is now leading to their nuptuals.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Yesterday I came home excited to see a tiny package waiting in my mailbox. Now I know this looks like a big old pile of pictures when in fact they are my new business cards. I've been putting of having cards made because of my lack of formal logo and website. Finally I said to myself, "This is stupid. People are always saying 'Do you have a business card?' " I like the idea of these because they are a photo and a business card all wrapped into one.

I had become enamored with skinny mini card at a photo trade show last spring. I ordered these through and on-line company called Moo. I found out about them from another photographer's blog and when I went to their sight I was thrilled to find the skinny mini. There is just something about this shape that I'm really into right now. I am even finding myself intentionally cropping my photos to a 5x10 ratio.

With Moo the cards are sold in batches of 100 and you can have up to 100 different images. Perfect for people like me, who find choosing their favorite photo is like choosing their favorite child. They also offer a variety of products including postcards, traditional business cards, greeting cards and accessories. I just LOVE the Mosaic Frame. How clever is that? They even have pre-designed cards that are oh so cute. I know I could come up with many uses for those guys. Check out their site and enjoy. The Moo Ideas page is fantastic. Their prices are reasonable, the turn around time was nothing out of the ordinary and I do say I'm impressed with the quality of the product. And let's face it. Who wouldn't like a company named Moo? It just sounds fun. Doesn't it?

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Thursday, June 11, 2009

I recently decided to get a new car...well a newer car. Nothing was wrong with my old car, but it turns out my grandmother was selling her PT Cruiser, and I thought it might be nice to have a car that sits a little higher off the ground and has a little more hauling capability. Besides, the car has style. Grandma paid extra for chrome wheels because she wanted to be a "Cool Grandma." So this past weekend I brought home the PT and tomorrow is my first real road trip and of course I'm taking my favorite co-pilot, Bianka.

Binx loves to go for car rides and she's really a good traveler, but I was concerned that she may not do well with the new car because it is higher off the ground and the window is higher up making it a little harder for her to look out. So last night "cruising" around the neighborhood.

I think she liked it. This car has power windows, a luxury item for me, which means she could hang her head out and let rush through her ears. We ran by Chick-fil-a. Bianka flirted with the cashier and scored herself a treat. Yes, I think there will be many happy road trips in our future.

Now that Chrysler is in the process of being bought out by Fiat, this may be the closest I'll ever get to an Italian sports car. :-)

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

You'd never know how excited I get over doing a photo shoot. I come home and almost immediately start going through the photos on the computer. (This is after I've already scrolled through the images on the back of the camera at least five or six times.) As I go through them I make mental notes to myself. "This one would be great to blog." Have you seen these sessions on my blog?....no. That's because something more pressing comes up and simply life gets in the way of blogging, and before you know it I figure what's the point because it's been weeks or sometimes months now.

I know I've said it before, but I'm going to try really hard to not let that stop me anymore. Just because these images are from a few months ago doesn't make they or the people or places in them any less special or that I don't have stories to share about them. In fact sometimes the an image will be come more meaningful with time. Therefore I'm introducing the back[b]log.

Patrick and Liz.

We did these photos back at the end of last summer. I believe it was around ninety degrees that day, and these two were troopers. We spent the warm afternoon strolling through Gratz Park, one of my favorite spots in Lexington.

At the time we did the session these two were not engaged, but my dear friend, Ashleigh (Patrick's Sister-In-Law) told me she thought a proposal would be soon. She teased me about keeping my calendar open...just in case.

Sure enough, he did. The couple got engaged over the holidays and I almost immediately got a phone call, asking to come share their day. (Thanks guys. You make me feel special.)

The wedding is this Friday in Huntington, WV, which is where they both live. I can't wait!

Monday, June 1, 2009

It seems like summer is sneaking up on us now, but that's okay. It is June after all. Where does the time go?

I'll start off by getting Bianka's snake count up to date. As of June 1st, she's caught 7 snakes. I'm starting to get requests by members of my family to rent her out as a snake removal service.

I'm not exactly happy that she's catching so many of these little guys. After all they are good for my garden, but try telling that to the little dog.

Speaking of gardens my very first strawberries of the season are starting to ripen. I ate this little guy right about 2 seconds after snapping this picture. Nothing beats freshly picked garden goodies. I have about a dozen plants all together I can't wait until the rest ripen. In the mean time I'll take a small hand-full of berries each day for my granola and yogurt or perhaps a smoothie. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........................

While I was admiring and savoring my sweet strawberries. Bianka was fixated on something else. I found her along the fence-line whining and growling. Dirt was flying under her feet as she was trying to dig her way under the fence. Whatever she was after, it was actually in the neighbor's yard, but that wasn't slowing her down any.

I ignored her antics at first, figuring she was after Snake #8, but when she grabbed the fence with her teeth and started pulling on it, I figured this had to be something else. Any snake in its right mind would've been long gone by now with the ruckus she was creating.

I decided to investigate the situation and quickly found out what all the fuss was about.

Yes, that's it....a turtle, and he was just out of Bianka's reach...

...not that she didn't try with all her might.

For his own safety and my sanity, I removed the turtle and set him loose in another part of the yard. Hopefully he's found another quieter place to rest.